The Catholic Order of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan was founded in
Sydney in 1857 following a decision of Australia's first Catholic Archbishop,
John Bede Polding, to establish a new congregation of religious women, the first
to be founded on Australian soil. From the very beginning,
commitment to women and the education of young people – girls in particular –
has been at the heart of the congregation's mission. They opened
their first school in 1861 and today own and operate ten schools in Australia
and one school in Japan.

Throughout their history, the
contemporary challenges and needs of the church and society have determined the
activities of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. Mater Christi
College was established in its present location overlooking Belgrave in 1963.
The College is situated in a green mountain landscape in the Dandenong Ranges,
its superb location a catalyst for environmental education projects and for
developing students' awareness of the beauty of creation and the need for all to
treasure the earth's resources.

Though originally conceived as a
small school, rapid population growth in Melbourne's eastern suburbs and its
reputation for excellence has seen Mater Christi grow far beyond that envisioned
by its founders. Today the College enrolment exceeds 900 students
and includes students for several Asia-Pacific countries.